Erik Lindahl and the duo Kadri Kallaste and Pinja Koskelin are the shared winners of the Habitare Design Competition 2019
The shared winners of this year’s Habitare Design Competition, which is targeted at design, architecture and spatial design students, are Erik Lindahl with his design Palikat and the duo Kadri Kallaste and Pinja Koskelin with their design Gulf of Reed. The head judge of the competition, Stefan Diez, chose the winners from among four finalists. The winners of the competition will share the grand prize of €5,000, which is donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. The four finalist designs will be on display at Habitare in Helsinki from 11 to 15 September 2019.
The theme of this year’s Habitare Design Competition was “tête-à-tête” – an intimate meeting between two people. The contestants were asked to design a place, space or piece of furniture suitable for a meeting between two people. Habitare Design Competition is organized by Messukeskus and the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
The winning designs, as chosen by the head judge of the competition, Stefan Diez, are:
PALIKAT | Erik Lindahl
Palikat (‘Blocks’) features a configuration of rectangular cuboid objects that plays with massing, creating a minimalistic outdoor resting area. In the design, the blocks click into place, as the objects need each other to form a functional whole.
GULF OF REED | Kadri Kallaste and Pinja Koskelin
Gulf of Reed is inspired by the common reed generally found in the Gulf of Finland. The sculpture, which is made of this versatile and natural material and which mimics the shape of the Möbius strip, provides an opportunity for having intimate conversations and occupying the various surfaces and levels of the sculpture.
”Erik Lindahl’s design is avery finalised, clear and expressive concept, with a strong, playful, poetic and sculptural effect. Kadri Kallaste and Pinja Koskelin’s design is like an installation – sensual and sustainable. This piece shows that there is huge potential in rediscovering and further exploring this material, reed”, Diez says.
The other designs that made it to the final are:
KAKSIN | Mira Järvinen
Kaksin (‘Us two’) straddles the middle ground between a garment, a work of art and an interior decoration element, taking you on a journey to childhood memories. The wearable form of the design, which is knitted from merino and mohair wool, brings two people close to each other and provides shelter for intimate conversations, stories and secrets.
KEVEÄ | Eveliina Juuri and Heikki Konu
Keveä (‘Lightweight’) is a weatherproof piece of furniture for public spaces that functions as a place of relaxation and that provides easy seating for, say, having a bite to eat. The symmetrical design is made of bent perforated steel, and due to its lightweight construction, it can be easily moved and used for events.
Stefan Diez as the head judge
The head judge of the Habitare Design Competition 2019 was the German designer and founder of Diez Office, Stefan Diez. Diez Office cobines craft and technical expertise and has designed award-winning products in collaboration with, for example, Hay, Rosenthal and Thonet. Stefan Diez founded Diez Office in 2002 and has since worked as professor of industrial design at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design in Germany and the School of Industrial Design at Lund University in Sweden.
More information:
Habitare, communications manager Eva Kiviranta, tel. +358 407756609, eva.kiviranta@messukeskus.com
Images of the finalists and their works: http://bit.ly/HabitareDesignCompetition19
Habitare Design Competition
Organised by Messukeskus and the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, the Habitare Design Competition has, over the years, put the spotlight on up-and-coming design and architecture students. Influential figures in architecture and design have been invited to be head judges for the competition. The grand prize for the competition, donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation, has been used to encourage young students to continue their studies and build successful careers. The Habitare Design Competition is now being organised for the 18th time. | #messusäätiö
Habitare
Habitare, the largest furniture, design and interior decoration event in Finland, will be held at Messukeskus in Helsinki, from 11 to 15 September 2019. Habitare offers experiences and ideas on interior decoration, and on the functioning and look of homes and other spaces. Habitare highlights the ideas and works by a new generation of designers, and sparks discussion. The International Friend of Habitare in 2019 is Alberto Alessi. To be held concurrently with Habitare is the Hifi event. | www.habitare.fi | @HabitareFair | www.facebook.com/habitare | #habitare2019
